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CAPPY GREENIDGE LAID TO REST

Rudolph ‘Cappy’ Greenidge, former Member of Parliament for St Philip North, who died on August 2 at the age of 79, was honoured with a touching funeral service at Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens on Friday. Family and friends came together to celebrate the life of a man fondly remembered as a gentle soul who was strongly dedicated to the upliftment of his community.

During the service, his brother Henderson Clarke spoke affectionately of him, and said his brother was a ‘St Philip man’ through and through. Clarke said, “Cappy has left our community with fond memories of the St Philip Night Cricket and the St Philip Dominoes competitions; the St Philip Primary School Independence Quiz; the St Philip Independence Fun Walk; the St Philip Annual Awards, and the St Philip Carnival. These annual events become the envy of other constituencies across Barbados, and continue to this day to be responsible for the fostering and development of comradery, closeness and friendships. It was these kinds of activities that brought Cappy the most joy.”

Meanwhile Prime Minister Mia Mottley said though Greenidge was large in stature, his soul was a kind and respectful one at all times.“He was tall, his hugs were comforting, his voice however soft was reassuring. Indeed, I can not recall anytime in the last 37 or so years that I knew Cappy, that he raised his voice in anger. Even when he wanted to be cutting and incisive, he found words to do so without resorting to expletives or volume in his voice. “I believe that those of us who had the privilege of working beside him as a minister and as a member of parliament, understood what I mean when I say the gentleman was dignified but never arrogant.”

She added, “May God bless his soul, and may all of you, his family and friends… be comforted with the knowledge that we give thanks now for the life of a gentle giant who epitomises the best of Barbadians country values.”

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NCSA Celebrates Campers at Project S.O.F.T. Camp Graduation

The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) proudly hosted the graduation ceremony of its 22^nd annual Project S.O.F.T. (Safeguarding Our Future Today) camp on Saturday September 7^th, 2024, celebrating over 40 new graduates. This transformative programme, which aims to prepare young people transitioning from primary to secondary school, continues to be a vital part of NCSA’s commitment to substance abuse prevention and youth development.

Chairman of the NCSA, Mr. Hadford Howell in his address, praised both the camp staff and participants for their hard work and dedication. He emphasized that while the programme’s name might imply softness, the work required is anything but soft. He remarked, “There is nothing SOFT about this long-standing and commendable NCSA programme. The work put in by camp staff and the children is HARD but rewarding.”

Since its inception in 2002, Project S.O.F.T. has impacted the lives of over 700 young people and their families in Barbados. In this year’s camp, participants engaged in drug education, team-building exercises, and life skills development, all designed to help them navigate the new challenges they will face in secondary school.

In his inspiring message to the graduates, the Chairman likened them to pearls—precious and valuable, offering advice using the acronym “PEARL” encouraging them to resist Peer Pressure, to draw on their families Experiences, to be Ambitious, to be Responsible and to Listen, Learn, Lead and Love as they move forward in life.

The NCSA continues to play a significant role in shaping young lives through Project S.O.F.T., and the organization looks forward to seeing the future success of its graduates. “Who knows,” the chairman added, “perhaps in a few years, you will come back to help us by being a counsellor at a Project S.O.F.T. camp.” (PR)

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CHILDREN TREATED TO A DAY OF FUN

Some of the children receiving their back to school goody bags from BNOCL CEO, James Browne and Tradewind Tankers represented, Mikel Juan Panek

Over 300 children in Barbados enjoyed a day of fun and excitement at the recent Back-to-School Giveaway sponsored by Tradewind Tankers and the Barbados National Oil Company (BNOCL). The free event featured a variety of activities as well as free school supplies, food and drinks,

Tradewind Tankers, a shipping firm that operates and owns a diverse fleet of oil/chemical tankers and dry bulk carriers is a vendor of BNOCL, was eager to give back to the Barbadian community in a meaningful way. The company’s involvement in the Back-to-School Giveaway was a testament to its commitment to corporate social responsibility.

“We were thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event,” said Mikel Panek from Tradewind Tankers. “It was an opportunity for us to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Barbados.”

Samantha Hazlewood-Ermay, Marketing & Public Relations Officer at BNOCL, expressed her satisfaction with the event’s success. “The Back-to-School Giveaway was a wonderful experience for everyone involved,” she said. “The children were overjoyed to receive school supplies and enjoy the festivities, and we were delighted to be able to support local small businesses as well.”

BNOCL and Tradewind Tankers are already looking forward to hosting a similar event next year, providing even more opportunities for Barbadian children to benefit from their generosity. (PR)

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Caribbean Association Of Probation And Parole To Launch Next Week

Regional efforts to address crime and promote the rehabilitation of offenders will receive a boost, next week, with the launch of the Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole (CAPP), in Barbados.

On Monday, September 9, and Tuesday, September 10, 20 delegates from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, the Turks & Caicos and Trinidad & Tobago, will meet with their local counterparts at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management, Cave Hill, St. Michael. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. on both days.

The purpose of the CAPP is to serve as a platform for coordination, collaboration, and capacity-building among its member countries. The regional association is also expected to facilitate the development and implementation of standardised practices, advocacy for policy reforms, and resource mobilisation for probation services.

Representatives from the Barbados Probation Department’s key stakeholder agencies will also attend the two-day event. They include members of the Judiciary and the legal fraternity; the Government Industrial School, the Barbados Prison Service, The Barbados Police Service, the Child Care Board, the National Council on Substance Abuse, OAS/CICAD, the Maria Holder Trust and UNICEF.

Other stakeholders slated to participate are the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, Drug Education and Counselling Services, UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Sandy Lane Charitable Trust, the Division of Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus and Scotiabank.

Monday’s opening ceremony will feature a keynote address by Professor of Management and Organisational Behaviour at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Dwayne Devonish. That day’s agenda will also include a panel discussion entitled: “Challenges and Opportunities in Probation Parole”, led by representatives from Anguilla, Jamaica and The Bahamas.

On Tuesday, September 10, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Alliston Seale will be the featured speaker. The day’s agenda will also include a panel discussion on “Innovations in Probation and Parole”, led by participants from St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.

The event will close with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding among member countries. (PR/GIS)